Rochester’s bullpen combines for 8 innings of 2-run ball.
By Jim Cain / Pawtucket Red Sox
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — In a game that saw four ties and three lead changes, the Rochester Red Wings (12-16) prevailed thanks to two runs in the ninth inning to take game two of this series with the Pawtucket Red Sox (11-17) by a final of 10-8.
The PawSox jumped on Red Wings starter in the very first inning. They sent 11 men to the plate, and 6 of them scored. Sam Travis brought home the game’s runs on a two-run single to right field. The next batter, Bryce Brentz, blasted a three-run home run to straightaway center to make it 5-0. In his second at-bat of the inning, Mike Miller hit an infield single that brought home the sixth run of the inning.
Rochester responded in the second by sending 9 batters to the plate. Jordany Valdespin drove home a run on an RBI single. Drew Maggi followed that with an RBI single of his own. Three batters later, LaMonte Wade Jr. was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 6-3.
The Red Wings got another run in the third inning on Valdespin’s second run-scoring hit in as many innings.
Then in the fourth, Rochester pulled off a double steal with runners at the corners that brought home the tying run. Brent Rooker followed that up with a two-run home run into the left-field bullpen that gave Rochester a 7-6 lead.
Pawtucket came right back and tied the game in the bottom half of the frame when Rusney Castillo drove home Miller with a double to the gap.
The PawSox re-gained the lead in the fifth on an RBI single from Josh Tobias.
But Rochester came right back to tie it in the sixth inning with an RBI groundout from Valdespin.
For the second-straight night, the two teams went into the ninth inning tied, and once again, Rochester came away with the lead. Maggi doubled to lead off the inning, and then Nick Gordon lined an RBI double to put Rochester in front for good.
The Red Wings bullpen combined for 8 innings of 2-run baseball.
The two teams combined for 18 runs and 25 hits.
The PawSox wrap up their three-game series with the Rochester Red Wings tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Teddy Stankiewicz (0-1, 4.09 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Red Wings righty Kohl Stewart (2-2, 4.50 ERA).
The homestand wraps up on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm.
*NOTES — The Minnesota Twins announced the following roster moves Saturday: RHP DJ Baxendale was reinstated from the Injured List; and INF Adam Rosales was traded to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations.